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Motorcyclist still critical; man charged in hit-and-run

Published: Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 7:37 p.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 1, 2012 at 7:37 p.m.

A 59-year-old motorcyclist critically injured in a hit-and-run crash on W. State Road 40 Friday afternoon remains in a hospital, while the person who police say was the driver of the car made his first appearance in front of a judge on Saturday morning at the Marion County Jail.

Vito Pecoraro was severely injured in the accident, when police say William Devon Rozier turned his vehicle in front of Pecoraro's motorcycle.

Saturday morning, Rozier told Judge Sarah Ritteroff Williams that he has been living in Marion County for three months and that he lives with his mother. He also said he works at a fast-food restaurant and makes $300 every two weeks. He was given a public defender.

At the time of his arrest, bail for the 26-year-old, charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving bodily injuries and driving while license is suspended or revoked, was $2,500.

However, after reviewing Rozier's driving record and his lack of ties to the community, the judge increased the bond for both charges to $10,000.

Outside the courtroom, Rozier told a Star-Banner reporter that even though he had told Ocala Police Department's traffic homicide investigators he was driving, he was not the one behind the wheel. Asked why he would admit to something he didn't do, Rozier said, “because they were going to arrest me anyway.”

“I try to look out for other people and get messed up in the end,” said Rozier, who added he has a poor driving record.

Rozier said he was sitting in back in the middle and the only thing he remembers is hearing a screeching sound.

He said a guy he only knows as “Pete” was driving the car, which he said belongs to his sister. After the incident, Rozier said he tried telling “Pete” to stop, but other people in the car, described as a 1998 Chevy Lumina, kept telling “Pete” to “keep going.”

Rozier was taken into custody by an OPD officer at his job. He said his shift began at 7 p.m. The accident was reported shortly after 5:30 p.m.

According to B.D. Grady, an OPD investigator, he was notified about the crash at the intersection of W. SR 40 and Northwest Seventh Avenue.

Vince Pecoraro, 22, told Grady he and his father were riding separate motorcycles westbound on SR 40 when a car turning left, coming from the opposite direction, turned directly in front of them. He said his father may have hit the car, which sped away. The 22-year-old was not injured, officials said.

From their investigation, officials said evidence collected by them showed the motorcyclist's helmet made contact with the vehicle in question.

The injured man was taken to a nearby landing area, where he was flown to Shands at the University of Florida in critical condition.

On Saturday, OPD officials said Pecoraro was still in critical condition.

The younger Pecoraro told a reporter that he and his father were out riding, he on a 2009 Kawasaki 250 Cruiser, and his father on a 2011 Honda Shadow.

Returning to the Ocala Police Department, Grady was told about a witness who may have seen the incident. The witness claimed Rozier was driving the car and that he was also in the vehicle. He also alleges he asked to be let out but Rozier kept driving.

Finally stopping near Spring Manor Apartments, the witness said he was let out.

Two other people also in the vehicle were located by an Ocala police officer and both identified Rozier as the driver.

Taken to the police station, Rozier told Officer Harold Compton, another investigator, that he was driving and believes the motorcycle may have struck the rear of the vehicle, police said.

Rozier said the people in the back told him to leave the scene and he admitted to knowing that he had a suspended driver's license.

<p>A 59-year-old motorcyclist critically injured in a hit-and-run crash on W. State Road 40 Friday afternoon remains in a hospital, while the person who police say was the driver of the car made his first appearance in front of a judge on Saturday morning at the Marion County Jail.</p><p>Vito Pecoraro was severely injured in the accident, when police say William Devon Rozier turned his vehicle in front of Pecoraro's motorcycle.</p><p>Saturday morning, Rozier told Judge Sarah Ritteroff Williams that he has been living in Marion County for three months and that he lives with his mother. He also said he works at a fast-food restaurant and makes $300 every two weeks. He was given a public defender.</p><p>At the time of his arrest, bail for the 26-year-old, charged with leaving the scene of a crash involving bodily injuries and driving while license is suspended or revoked, was $2,500.</p><p>However, after reviewing Rozier's driving record and his lack of ties to the community, the judge increased the bond for both charges to $10,000.</p><p>Outside the courtroom, Rozier told a Star-Banner reporter that even though he had told Ocala Police Department's traffic homicide investigators he was driving, he was not the one behind the wheel. Asked why he would admit to something he didn't do, Rozier said, “because they were going to arrest me anyway.”</p><p>“I try to look out for other people and get messed up in the end,” said Rozier, who added he has a poor driving record.</p><p>Rozier said he was sitting in back in the middle and the only thing he remembers is hearing a screeching sound.</p><p>He said a guy he only knows as “Pete” was driving the car, which he said belongs to his sister. After the incident, Rozier said he tried telling “Pete” to stop, but other people in the car, described as a 1998 Chevy Lumina, kept telling “Pete” to “keep going.”</p><p>Rozier was taken into custody by an OPD officer at his job. He said his shift began at 7 p.m. The accident was reported shortly after 5:30 p.m.</p><p>According to B.D. Grady, an OPD investigator, he was notified about the crash at the intersection of W. SR 40 and Northwest Seventh Avenue.</p><p>Vince Pecoraro, 22, told Grady he and his father were riding separate motorcycles westbound on SR 40 when a car turning left, coming from the opposite direction, turned directly in front of them. He said his father may have hit the car, which sped away. The 22-year-old was not injured, officials said.</p><p>From their investigation, officials said evidence collected by them showed the motorcyclist's helmet made contact with the vehicle in question.</p><p>The injured man was taken to a nearby landing area, where he was flown to Shands at the University of Florida in critical condition.</p><p>On Saturday, OPD officials said Pecoraro was still in critical condition.</p><p>The younger Pecoraro told a reporter that he and his father were out riding, he on a 2009 Kawasaki 250 Cruiser, and his father on a 2011 Honda Shadow.</p><p>Returning to the Ocala Police Department, Grady was told about a witness who may have seen the incident. The witness claimed Rozier was driving the car and that he was also in the vehicle. He also alleges he asked to be let out but Rozier kept driving.</p><p>Finally stopping near Spring Manor Apartments, the witness said he was let out.</p><p>Two other people also in the vehicle were located by an Ocala police officer and both identified Rozier as the driver.</p><p>Taken to the police station, Rozier told Officer Harold Compton, another investigator, that he was driving and believes the motorcycle may have struck the rear of the vehicle, police said.</p><p>Rozier said the people in the back told him to leave the scene and he admitted to knowing that he had a suspended driver's license.</p>